Verbena plant named ‘Sunmaricorapi2 ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Sunmaricorapi2’, characterized by its decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; attractive red purple-colored flowers; freely and continuous flowering habit; long-lasting flowers; non-fertile flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Verbena×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunmaricorapi2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Sunmaricorapi2.

The new Verbena is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Verbena×hybrida cultivar Sunmariripi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,037. The new Verbena was selected by the Inventors as a flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent cultivar in a controlled environment in Yokaichi, Shiga, Japan in March, 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Yokaichi, Shiga, Japan since November, 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Sunmaricorapi2 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunmaricorapi2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunmaricorapi2’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena:

-   -   1. Decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Attractive red purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Long-lasting flowers.     -   6. Non-fertile flowers     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Verbena are most similar to plants of the parent, the cultivar Sunmariripi. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Yokaichi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Verbena differed from plants of the cultivar Sunmariripi in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were more compact than plants of         the cultivar Sunmariripi.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena had smaller inflorescences than         plants of the cultivar Sunmariripi.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar Sunmariripi         differed in flower coloration.     -   4. Plants of the new Verbena were not fertile and did not         produce seed whereas plants of the cultivar Sunmariripi produced         seed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Verbena.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Sunmaricorapi2’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Sunmaricorapi2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Yokaichi, Shiga, Japan in an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices. Plants were grown in 15-cm containers and were about four months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 12° C. Plants were pinched one time in the summer. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena drummondii cultivar     Sunmaricorapi2. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the     Verbena×hybrida cultivar Sunmariripi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.     No. 11,037. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 20 to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—About one month at 20 to 25°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; ivory to pale brown             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Decumbent plant habit; broadly inverted             triangle; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit with             short internodes, dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 8.3 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 46.2 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About             2.3 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A; longitudinal stripes, 200A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.             Length: About 3.9 cm. Width: About 3.1 cm. Shape: Broadly             ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Crenate to             serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.             Venation pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: 137B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 137A.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, star-shaped salverform flowers             arranged in umbels; flowers face mostly upright. Freely             flowering habit with about nine open flowers per             inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from April             to November in Japan. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the             plant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.3 mm.             Shape: Cylindrical. Color: N57A.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Depth: About 2.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 7.6 cm. Lobe width: About 6.5 mm. Shape:             Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly             flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             satiny. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: N57A.             Developing petals, lower surface: 62B. Fully expanded             petals, upper surface: 58B. Fully expanded petals, lower             surface: 62B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Calyx length: About             1.1 cm. Calyx diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A; longitudinal lines,             200A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.             Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: About 0.9 mm.             Anther color: 154B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             1B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Pistil             length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color:             144A. Style length: About 1.3 cm. Style color: 144B. Ovary             color: 145B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been     noted to be resistant to specific pathogens and pests common to     Verbena. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and tolerated     temperatures from 0 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Sunmaricorapi2’, as illustrated and described. 